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Sharing diverse, remarkable, and inspiring real-life stories is what the I am OneBlood movement is all about.

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Our Service Area

We are committed to saving lives in your community.

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Earn Rewards

You get rewarded every time you donate with OneBlood.

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Sickle Cell Hero Logo

 

Only You Can Help Sickle Cell Patients

Thank you for recent donation with OneBlood! You are a perfect match for specific sickle cell patients throughout our hospitals. Because your blood is critically important to the health of these patients, we encourage you to donate regularly.

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Why Do Sickle Cell Patients Need Blood Donors?

Sickle cell is the most common inherited blood disease. It causes red blood cells to form abnormal crescent shapes that often get stuck together when traveling through the body, causing painful clots.


It is impossible to help sickle cell patients effectively manage their disease without the help of local donors like you.


Because sickle cell patients often require regular transfusions throughout their lifetime, the blood they receive must be more closely matched to prevent rejection. While a donor from any racial or ethnic group can be a match for a sickle cell patient, the best match for a blood transfusion is from an African-American donor.

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How You Can Help

There’s more than one way to give blood. Let your blood type lead the way in targeting the best way for you to donate your powerful life saving gift.

1 in 2

Type O African American blood donors are a match for sickle patients

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Only 1 in 40

Type O blood donors of all other ethnicities are a match

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Yet only 1 in 100

African Americans actually give blood

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"You can help patients sidelined from sickle cell when you donate blood."

-Santonio Holmes

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Blood Donation FAQs

Is it safe to donate blood?

 

Yes! Donating blood is incredibly safe. In fact, it’s safer than getting a scrape or a cut! The supplies used to collect your blood are sterile and only used once. You cannot get HIV or any other infectious diseases from donating blood.

Can I donate if I have sickle cell trait?

 

Yes! Having sickle cell trait does not disqualify you from donating blood. You are still eligible to donate and help save local lives even if you have sickle cell trait.

Surgery

 

Patients who have surgery to remove cancer often need blood during the operation.

Can I still be a Sickle Cell Hero if I am not of African Descent?

 

Yes! Although sickle cell disease is most common in people of African descent, it can be found in many races and ethnic groups, including Spanish, Brazilian, Indian, and even Caucasian. This means donors of all ethnicities can be a match for sickle cell patients!